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Some Newness and Some Realness

Wednesday, May 03, 2017

I have one face and granted my sisters do like to dip into my beauty stash, I'm not above admitting that I do have more product than I can ever use nor need. Does that stop me getting excited about the latest make-up launches? In a word no, I am only human and even if I wasn't a beauty blogger I would still most likely spend excessive amounts on liquid lipstick et al; my beauty habits where way out of control long before I started beauty blogging on that faithful day back in January 2011.

What I do want to change is hype and hysteria; I'm beyond susceptible to those must-have products talked up on social media even if they aren't suited to my taste or needs. I want to look like I've been ran through a filter or ten but realistically no product is going to do that and the very model promoting the product (no hate girl, get that cash) has done just that via face tube. From now on I'm going to kick back and go with my own personal flow and only buy what I want and need, rather than trying to play a never ending game of beauty catch up - again no shade, it is my lack of self control to blame here, nothing else.

So what's new to my stash and in some instances the beauty halls?

Smashbox + Casey Holmes Spotlight Palette in Pearl
I struggle finding a good middle ground with highlighting products for day wear, as much as I admire a striking jolt of shimmer on others, for me it is a little out of my comfort zone and yet I don't want something so subtle, that I could've skipped such step entirely. The Smashbox + Casey Holmes Spotlight Palette in Pearl is the answer to my highlighting woes: three soft finish, highlighting powders that add a gentle glimmer to my skin and don't tend to nestle into my open and enlarged pores. The shades are neutral and universally flattering and should you wish a more intense finish, try dampening your skin (or brush) with the likes of MAC Fix + and then applying your shade of choice. Get it here for £35 - link.

Two things to note: I'm a little slow off the mark with this launch and secondly this is my second Ultimate Basics Palette (hence why it is so new and untouched) as I foolishly left my original in a hotel. If you like matte eyeshadow and more neutral shades than you can shake a stick at, you need this. For soft, and easy to blend and intensely pigmented eyeshadow there is no brand better than Urban Decay; my personal favourite shade has to be Extra Biter, if you have light eyes, I promise this will make them seem so much more intense. A great travel sized palette...well as long as you remember to bring it back home with you that is. Edit - mid photography session I only went and smashed the black shade! Why is the black eyeshadow always the first to go? I got mine from Debenhams for £39.50 - link.

This has lay untouched in my stash for quite some while now and after a weekend dabble, I can happily say that I am both satisfied with the texture and finish - the colour is maybe a little too deep for my preference but hey you can't win them all. The great thing about the Charlotte Tilbury Colour Chameleon (£19) is that once applied they don't budge, no smudging, no smearing and on the most part no creasing. The downside is that they are a little firm and can feel like they are dragging on the eye lids; my advice is to warm the nib of the pencil with your fingertips and then apply using a brush - it really does make a world of difference. You can find all eight shades here - link.

I don't like my brows to look too groomed, I like a natural look but at the same time as they are so fair in colour and a little sparse, going product-less isn't really a day-to-day option for me. At the moment I am enjoying the Rimmel Brow This Way Brow Styling Gel in Blonde (£4.49). I rather like that this doesn't contain fibres so it doesn't irritate my eye area (hayfever is currently rife) but it does gently tint (a great ashy shade) and shape my seemingly wild eyebrows. My only complaint is that the spoiler is far too big and broad for it's intended use - a smaller brush head would allow for more precision! There's four shades to choose from including a clear option via Superdrug - link.

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Biscotti
If you have yet to discover the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipsticks for yourself, man are you in for a treat. I don't like to play favourites too often as I am fickle but this is easily one of the best formulations around: quick and easy to apply, not overly drying, no flaking or smearing and the shade range is something else. At the moment, I am still very much enjoying deeper nudes (I am on the lookout for a new coral or two for the Summer) and as such, no lipstick has quite got the same level of loving (or use if you aren't quite as gushing as I) than Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Biscotti £16 - a cool toned yet deep nude that seemingly works with just about every eyeshadow and blush combination I can muster up. You can shop all twenty shades here - link.

My adulthood has mostly been scented by Thierry Mugler Alien Eau de Parfum but admittedly it is not exactly the most warm weather, ready fragrance around. The good news is that Alien Eau Sublime Eau de Toilette (£50) has just launched and although reminiscent of the original scent it has lighter and more citrus notes that lends itself better to the sunnier weather. I honestly can't get enough. The bad news is that it is limited edition and according to most sites, stock is low - the hoarder in me wants to purchase another bottle but that goes against everything I declared in the opening paragraph. If you want to try this for yourself, you can find it via Selfridges - link.

Is beauty F.O.M.O (fear of missing out) dictating your shopping habits? I delve a little deeper below the surface in this post.